what can our local health dept. be thinking?

[oramar]

They just ran out of flu vaccine today. They advised the local TV stations to tell people to call around to local hospitals and doctor's offices to see if they can find any. :angryfire Our little hospital has already recieved several thousand inquiries and most physicians offices have recieved hundreds. I just wonder what the health dept. is trying to accomplish. They are just going to jam up phone lines again and no one is going to get the vaccine anyway.

[sharann, BSN, RN]

I would give them the # to the local health dept.

They are just turfing the public off to others.

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

I would give them the # to the local health dept.

They are just turfing the public off to others.

Heh.

[LydiaGreen]

I imagine your hospital is no different than the one I work in. The flu vaccine that the hospital has on hand is for patients and staff only and is administered on a priority basis - we start with the at-risk patients (elderly, immuno-compomised, etc.) then staff. Hospitals don't stock enough flu vaccine for the entire area - THAT'S the health department's job! And I would tell the people who phone exactly that! They are definitely trying to pass the buck.

[oramar]

For once I can't blame this on the newsmedia. You know if the health dept. hands them a notice they are going to read it. Especially since they(newsmedia) love this story so much.